"I'm sorry, Dad . . ." The words echoed in Kratos's mind as he dodged another attack. A strike to the head ended the life form that had knocked His son, Lloyd, unconscious. Of course the strike was less than half of the damage he could have done, but he was playing the mercenary that just showed up to help the chosen.
But meeting the son he thought was long dead was unexpected.
How many times had he told Lloyd he was useless, weak, a burden? Kratos had lost count, far too many for a good father to have. It was for Lloyds own good, was it not? It's better for him to hate me than to know the truth, and become attached only to have me betray them.
Still, as Raine healed the unconscious Lloyd, Kratos could help but pretend that those words were for him. Not for the dwarf that raised him, but for Kratos.
"I'm sorry, Dad . . ."
Still, no matter how hard Kratos wished he could cast aside the role of the solitary mercenary and tell Lloyd the truth, he couldn't bring himself to. That's what brought him to say all the things he said to him.
"Are you alright?" Kratos asked the now conscious Lloyd.
"Y-yeah."
"You should be more careful, if you are susceptible to such attacks you are nothing more than a burden to this group."
"I- I'm sorry." Dad. Kratos tagged on the last word, wishing that it were true.
I don't own Tales of Symphonia, or any of the characters.